Buddhism Monastic and Lay Buddhists

Monastic Buddhists  Monastic Buddhists are monks and nuns  There are no nuns in the Theravada tradition but there are nuns in Mahayana Buddhism  They live in a monastery away from their families  Monks and nuns own very few possessions  They can be recognised because they wear robes not ordinary clothes  Young monks may go and live in a monastery for a while and receive an education  Monks and nuns live a disciplined life of prayer, study and meditation  Monks and nuns are celibate (do not have sexual relationships)

Lay Buddhists  Lay Buddhists live in villages and towns  They are people who follow Buddhism but do not live in a monastery  They do not wear robes but may have been educated by monks  Lay people are not celibate like monks  Lay Buddhists will have families and children  They follow the teachings of the Buddha but not so strictly as monastic Buddhists  They may find it difficult to dedicate themselves to the practice of meditation  They may seek spiritual guidance from monks  Heavy emphasis on morality for laity

How do lay and monastic communities work together?  Monks provide spiritual guidance (if it is required) for lay Buddhists  Monks officiate at religious festivals and ceremonies  In helping the monks laity receive good merit/kamma  Monks support families in times of bereavement  They teach meditation  Help lay people to understand the dhamma better  Lay people provide food for monks on alms rounds in Thailand and Sri Lanka  Laity perform ‘menial’ work for monastic community  Jobs such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, general maintenance and administration  Laity do jobs for monks to enable them to focus on the spiritual path

Why is it easier for monks and nuns to follow the dhamma?  Life in a monastery is very disciplined  Monks get up early and follow a very strict routine of prayer, study and meditation  Far fewer distractions for people living a monastic life than there are for lay Buddhists  No: TVs, alcohol, advertising, consumerism, family pressures, pressures of work, they own very little, very little influence from outside  Living with others who are focussed on following a spiritual path  They support each other and give guidance  Non attachment is embodied in austere living conditions

What difficulties might a lay person have when trying to follow the dhamma?  Living in a world surrounded by material and sensory pleasures  Adverts on TV tell people that they will never be complete until they have one of these  Images in the media of how one should look and what you should have  Pressures of trying to provide for their families  Pressure at work  Pressure of not having enough  Pressures of relationships  Financial worries  Alcohol and drugs or sex may be a temptation  Busy lives and the pressure of society  Not enough time to focus on spiritual matters